red
Polyacrylamide
IARC Group 2A. Forms on high-temperature browning of starches; also a polyacrylamide impurity.
Low Tox Gear · Scanner
Olay Total Effects Face Cream Moisturiser Gentle SPF 15 50g
Is Olay Total Effects Face Cream Moisturiser Gentle SPF 15 50g low tox? Our scanner flagged 12 ingredients (2 in the avoid tier, 10 caution) on its published label, screened against our 237 source-cited chemical rules.
2 avoid10 caution
12 ingredients flagged
What we flagged
red
PTFE
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. Persistent in body and environment. Linked to immune, thyroid and reproductive effects.
amber
Ethylhexyl Salicylate
Salicylate UV filter — milder profile than oxybenzone but absorbs systemically (FDA TEA).
amber
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
Common UVA filter — degrades in sunlight unless stabilised.
amber
Octocrylene
Chemical UV filter. Photoallergen risk and benzophenone breakdown over time.
Downs et al. Chemical Research in Toxicology 2021 (benzophenone degradation)
amber
Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid
Water-soluble UV filter; mild irritant for some skin types.
amber
Titanium Dioxide
Banned as a food additive in the EU (2022) due to nano-particle genotoxicity concerns. Inhalation classified IARC Group 2B.
amber
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative — generally well-tolerated but documented as MCAS and contact-dermatitis trigger in sensitive individuals.
Full ingredients (from label)
WaterGlycerinNiacinamideEthylhexyl SalicylateButyl MethoxydibenzoylmethaneIsopropyl IsostearateOctocrylenePanthenolPhenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic AcidPolyacrylamideTocopheryl AcetateC13-14 IsoparaffinAminomethyl PropanolPTFETitanium Dioxide12-HexanediolBehenyl AlcoholCaprylyl GlycolStearyl AlcoholPhenoxyethanolCetyl AlcoholCarbomerLaureth-7Cetearyl AlcoholCetearyl GlucosidePEG-100 StearateSodium Ascorbyl PhosphateSodium BenzoateDisodium EDTACitric AcidBHTPalmitic AcidStearic AcidZinc Oxide (Nano)Camellia Sinensis Leaf ExtractTriethoxycaprylylsilane.
How this analysis is generated
Each ingredient on this product's published label is matched against our 237 source-cited chemical rules, each documenting a concern from peer-reviewed research and regulatory sources. Severity tiers:
- Avoid (red) — banned or restricted in the EU, UK or Canada but still legal in the US, IARC-listed, or strong contact-allergen evidence.
- Caution (amber) — regulatory caution, contamination risk, or condition-specific irritant.
- Mild (green) — low concern but commonly avoided in low-tox formulations.
Each flag links to its primary chemical-level source, and each condition pill links to a PubMed-indexed paper that discusses the chemical class in the context of that condition. Every citation is a real peer-reviewed paper — we don't link to Wikipedia or PubMed search pages. Some pairs use a topically-broad paper (e.g. a fragrance-allergen patch-test review) rather than a single-pair study where the literature is thin. The full evidence chain (chemical → mechanism → condition → paper) is one click away.
This is automated analysis of a published label, not medical advice — always verify the label yourself before changing products. Methodology and source list at scan.lowtoxgear.com.